Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-01-21

mittcd slavery till 1900, but prohibited II after
| that time. In 1850 tho question came up again.
| At that time Arthur 81. Clair was President oil
| Congress. The ordinance would havo bcor
passed tho 10th OF May had Its progress moi
been arrested by communication from the
| Ohio Company.
The company had been formed, subscribers
| had been obtained, md General Parsons ap
pcarcd on the day before the bill came up for o
! final vote TO mako purchase OF land from Con
gress. This perfected scheme for settlement
In Ohio was widely discussed. Mr.. Bancroft
says: at Interested every one. For vague hope
OF colonization hero stood q hardy band OF pi'
onccrs, ready TO lead tho way TO tho rapid alb.
sorption of the domestic debt OF tho United
States; selected from the choicest regiments oil
tho army, capable OF selfdcfcnsc; the protec'
tors of all who should follow them; men skilled
in the labor OF the field, and artisans, cntcrpris-
ing and laborious trained In the severe morality
and strict orthodoxy OF the New England villages
of the day."
The famous ordinance of 1857 was passed on
the 18Th OF July, and not until Rev. Manasseh
Cutler had visited New York, where Congress
was in session, and pressed its passngc. He, IL
is thought, inspired tho famous nnti'slavery
clause which forever prohibited slavery in the
Northwest Territory. His grandson, Hon. Will
liam II. Cutler, now lives in Marietta, and is q
man of wide acquaintance.
In the task Of drafting this ordinance and pro-
senting Il TO Congress, Rev. Manassoh Cutler
had n most efficient ally on the committee to
which II was decentralization Dane, the Rep
rcsontativc from his district in Congress.
Dane was an able lawyor, but he had not
turned his attention TO the construction OF Gov
ernmcnt policies or the reforming OF abuses. He
had useful experience in the Legislature OF
Massachusetts, and afterwards for short time
in the Continental Congress. Cutler was Tor
tunatc in having snch an advocate on tho floor
F.rtN ant In
such client. DIR. Cutler presented himself at
the doors OF Congress with the terms OF tho
Ohio Company purchase in one hand, and the
terms of settlement IN the other, and both were
accepted, and so an unsuccessful measure
which on two previous occasions Dane had nc-
quicsccd in MS member of Congressional
committee became under Cutters force Ma
tionul necessity; and when the Ordinance OF
1857, thus championcd, was made part of the
great body of American law, Cutler won the
eternal gratitude and lasting honor as the found
er of free institutions In the Northwestern Ter
ritory, and Dane secured the proud fame OF
managing the practical legislation that Effected
the great result.
The Ohio Company became the possessor OF a
million and half OF acres, and the emigration
of the settlers to the banks of the Muskingum,
marks nm epoch OF far-rcaching Importance In
the history OF this country. No colony was
ever planted under such conditions and aus
piocs Congress had so much faith in the men
who asked TO settle Ohio that 1t responded 70
their wishes, both us to the purchase and TO the
government OF the Territory. The United
States In Congress assembled, sent Putnam and
his associates to their new home with Ma
tional blessing Congress took its own Prcsi-
dent General Arthur st. Clair, and made him
the Governor OF the Northwest Territory, and
appointed as Judges two Generals OF the Rev
oluton, and this, too, before single emigrant
had ctnrtpl N his SfNynrl iOIrnpv.
The whole Nation at that time was interested
In the new colony. Among the prominent men
who were members OF the Ohio Company were
Governors james Bowdoin, Caleb Strong and
Glbridgc Berry, of Massachusetts, the latter
also Vice-Presdcnt of the United States; Gov
ernor William Greene of Rhode Island; Gov
crnor Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecticut; Sam
uel Dexter, U. s. Senator from Massachusetts
and Secretary of the Treasury; Uriah Tracy,
U. S. Senator from Connccticut Ebenezer Haz-
zard, Postmaster General under the Continent
nj Congress; Il. Livingstone, Justice OF the
Supreme Court OF the United States; Alexan-
der Hamilton the first Secretary of the Treas
ury; Henry Knox, first Secretary OF War, and
Joseph Willard, President of Harvard College.
The very best brains and blood OF the young
Nation was enlisted in behalf OF its first colony
and Territory, and this proposed purchase and
settlement developed in our public men
higher and broader craftsmanship. Their
minus tApduuCu NllH lnc bIONlu VI tucI
country.
The American Historical Association, Mt its
last meeting, in the city of Washington, ex-
pressed lis hearty concern in the matter by
adopting this resolution: "RCCogniZing the
fact that acquisition OF the territory northwest
OF the Ohio was of the greatest consequence TO
the growth and development OF the United
States, and being informed OF n purpose TO
celebrate, at Marietta, in 1888, the centennial
OF the first settlement in that territory, we per
ccive that purpose TO be u proper recognition
of the beginning of what has become one OF
the most important divisions Of the American
Union"
The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical
Society has rs Kcd the Legislature TO take action
in reference tc the commemoraton, ut Marietta,
on the 18th of April 1888, OF the settlement of the
Northwest Territory, and the General Assem-
bly, has asked the Ohio delegation in Congress
to endcavor TO secure Congressional action for
the erection of monumental structure at Mari
eta.
Five great States have sprung from the